Headphones vs full range speakers

I think the most important thing concerning headphones is comfort. No matter how great they sound if they're too heavy or don't fit well, you won't get the maximum enjoyment. My headphones fit me comfortably, I can listen to them for hours (I listen maybe 30% compared with speakers). I'd also suggest a quality headphone amp for the best performance.

@ghdprentice pretty much nailed it. With headphones you lose some soundstaging  and the visceral feel of the sound on your skin but you'll likely hear more low level detail, channel gimmickry (good or bad) and they take out the room affect factor.

What is with the either/or premise?

It is true generally that we can hear more details with headphones...

The problem with this "truth" is that this truth is an "half-truth"...

And half-truth are more deceiving than lies...

If the speakers are not well chosen and if they are not imnplemented correctly in the room acoustically electrically and mechanically, yes they will give way less details...

But it is not true for my speakers now in my actual controlled room...I have the same level of details in my listening position than with my headphones...And probably an improved way to present these details than with an headphone...

then.....

Headphones with their vastly superior transient response are more lifelike, but I prefer speakers.

At least until I can find a pair of headphones that will let me forget I'm wearing them.

Headphones with their vastly superior transient response are more lifelike, but I prefer speakers.

This was my experience BEFORE acoustical control of my room which did for my speakers transient response an improvement so great i cease to use headphone...By modifying the pressures zone distribution in my room, the transient response of my speakers increased to almost the level of my headphone...Then with the other improvement related to speakers use like a better bass response, and a better listener envelopment factor, because the sound is AROUND THE head not in the head, speakers reign over my headphones now...

My speakers sound EXACTLY like headphone sound but around my head NOT IN MY HEAD....